Ozonizing apparatus for internal combustion engines



Nov. 27, 1934. A. c. RUNGE OZONIZING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINES Filed Nov. 6, 1929 Y INVENTOR. r /71w? C ,Ewvmg A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES .OZONIZING APPARATUS FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES Arthur 0. Range, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 6, 1929, Serial No. 405,252

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and means of preventing anaccumulation of carbon in the cylinders of an internal combustion engineor the removal of deposited carbon therefrom.

6 The object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient meansfor producing ozone in small quantity injected into the fuel charge ofthe engine simultaneously with the operation thereof.

A further object and feature of the invention is to provide ozonethrough the passage of air used in the fuel charge through or across aspark gap, and it is a further object and purpose of the invention toprovide an ignition system of an internal combustion engine,particularly the leadin line of a distributor or commutator for suchengine, with a spark gap and means whereby the reduced pressure withinthe intake manifold causes a flow of air across the gap and dischargingthe ozone produced to the engine cylinders.

It is well known that an electrical discharge in pressure of atmosphereis productive of ozone and some other gases and the purpose and objectof this invention is to provide a device that automatically producesozone by reason of operation of the engine including an electric circuitin such manner that a practically continuous electrical discharge isproduced and consequently a practically continuous production of ozonein a comparatively small quantity.

In addition to this fundamental feature an object of the invention is toprovide a spark gap in the engine ignition circuit thus serving thedouble purpose of causing an intensification at the spark plug terminalas well as a production of ozone for the intake manifold.

These and other objects and various novel features of the invention arehereinafter more fully described and claimed, and the preferred form of,construction of a. device for producing ozone for use in the fuel chargeof an internal combustion engine is shown in the accompanying draw ingin which- Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved device in 5 itspreferred relationship with an internal combustion engine a portion onlyof which is shown and the ignition circuit therefor which isdiagrammatically shown. 1 lFig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation ofmy improved ozone producing device.

,The upper part of the internal combustion engine is shown at l ha vinga'portion of the intake manifold 2 shownfther'ewith and spark plugs 3for the various cylinders. Also, I have shown in elevation a commutatoror'distributor 4 and the spark plugs are. each connected by anelectrical conductorwith the distributor as shown by the line 5 in Fig.2. The distributor, as is usual, has a rotating contact element 6.Further details of co the commutator are not here shown as the specificment 14 of the commutator connected with the contact element 6. In usualconstructions the lead-in wire 8 has a metallic terminal 14 adapted tobe introduced into this socket member 7 it being merely a tight fit inthe said socket. My ozone producing device is capable of readyattachment in such a circuit and consists of a body 15 of insulatingmaterial having a transverse aperture 16 extending through preferablyprovided with a bell-mouth 17 on one side and having a tube 18 on theopposite side which with a conduit 1911 leads to an aperture provided inthe intake manifold 2. The body 15 is also provided with a longitudinalaperture opening to'the cen-' tral aperture 16 in the lower part ofwhich is inserted the plug 19 having the split tubular end 20 forinsertion in the socket member 13 of the commutator. The opposite end isprovided with a screw 21 threaded in its portion of the longitudinalaperture, the head of which is within an enlarged portion 22 and withina tubular element 23 inserted in said enlarged portion. The screw 21provides a second plug in spaced relation with the plug 19 providing anadjustable spark gap within the air conduit 16 of the body. a The end-14 of the lead-in wire 8 for the commutator is merely pushed into thistube or socket 23. in the same manner as it otherwise would have pushedinto the member 13.

Thus, one'of the features of construction of my device is found in theprovision of the body member 15 with the part 20-for insertion in thesocket and the part 23 for insertion of the lead-in wire an'ci'thuswithout altering the construction of the commutator or the circuit wiresor terminals in any manner I can introduce the ozone producing device inthe circuit or remove it therefrom. This peculiar location of thedevice'is therefore desirable in that no fastening means is required andno revision of the engine appurtenances either in the parts, of thecircuit or in the parts of the apparatus required. I .L By the.arrangement of the screw 21 andlthe is preferably formed. of moldedbakelite so the lower terminal is fixed in position and the upper oneadjustable whereby it may be varied for use with different engines andthe proper width of gap provided for any specific installation.

It will be seen from the above description that the preferred locationof this ozone producing device is in the high tension lead-in line ofthe commutator. In a multi-cylinder engine there is'a practicallycontinuous electrical discharge across the terminals during operation ofthe engine and, as is well known, the gap provides a resistance in theignition circuit tending to intensify the electrical discharge at thespark plug terminals.

By connection of the aperture or conduit 16 with the intake manifold orother appropriate portion of the engine air is caused to flowcontinuously across the spark terminals. There is therefore apractically continuous production of ozone in a small quantity passingto the engine. It is immaterial to the operation of this engine whetherthe tube 19 discharges directly into the intake manifoldor otherappropriate portion of the charge forming apparatus even to the intakeend of the carburetor (not here shown) if desired. It is furtherimmaterial whether the circuit connected with the ozone producing deviceforms a part of the ignition circuit of the engine or not although suchlocation has the above beneficial effect of increasing the intensity ofthe discharge at the spark terminals. So far as the producing of ozoneis concerned any appropriate circuit may be utilized wherein a spark ispassed across the terminals of a device, a convenient form of whichis-shown more particularly in Fig. 2.

The beneficial eifects derived from the injection of ozone into theinflowing fuel charge as near as I am able to judge results from thefollowing fact Ozone possesses the molecular formula 0 it having twounited molecules and a third unstable molecule in that it is not unitedto the other two. Ozone is a most powerful oxidizing agent particularlyI believe for the reason that the unstable molecule is instantlyavailable to combine with charge at any appropriate point, the freemolecule combines with the gasoline or other hydrocarbon of the fuelcharge and the two united molecules pass into the cylinder and thecarbon therein being at high temperature takes up these two particlesincreasing the burning of the carbon and causing a continual productionof carbon dioxide passing from the engine through the exhaust ports. Atleast the introduction of the ozone in the fuel charge causes a limitedoxidization of the fuel and due to the oxygen added to the fuel charge agreater combustion efliciency is secured which tends to preventdeposition of carbon and to consume such deposited carbon as may havebeen in the cylinders before the assembly of this device therewith.

From the foregoing description it is believed evident that severalbeneficial effects are produced. Firstly and foremostly, a continuousintroduction of ozone in small quantity into the fuel charge whereby anincreased amount of oxygen is provided in a form to cause an oxidizationof the fuel charge commensurate with the quantity provided and resultingin a more complete combustion within the engine cylinders probably dueto the combining of the two attached molecules of oxygen with the carbonat high temperature in View of the demand for oxygen by the burningcarbon.

Further, by the provision of such a device in the ignition circuit atsuch point as to secure a practicallly continuous electrical dischargein the presence of air flowing to the engine and its inclusion in thisparticular point of the circuit described causes an intensification ofthe electrical discharge at the spark terminals. All of .these factors,the intensification of the spark discharge, the oxidization of the fuelcharge and increase of oxygen content of the fuel charge, togetherresult in a more highly efiicient operation of an engine of this typeand a removal of the deposited carbon and prevention of a furtherdeposit of carbon.

The device further is very simple and inexpensive in construction as itrequires no particular time in attaching or detaching as it is designedto be introduced into the spark or the ignition circuit without changein the construction or arrangement of the portions thereof with which itis connected. I

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is-- 1. In a device of-the character described for use inconjunction with the cover of a commutator for distributing electriccurrent in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine having afuel intake, the said cover having a central socket and a contactelement in the socket forming part of the ignition circuit, of an ozoneproducing device comprising a body of insulating material having aconduit for air therethrough and discharging to the fuel intake, a plugin the said body having an end projecting into the said air conduitwithin the body and an end projecting from the body for insertion in thesocket of the cover to engage said contact element, a second plug inlongitudinal alignment with the first named plug and terminating in thesaid air conduit within the body in spaced relation with the end of thefirst plug providing a spark gap, the last named plug beinglongitudinally adjustable in the body toward or from the first plug, anda socket connected with the last named plug adapted to receive a lead-inwire of the ignition circuit.

2. In a device of the character described for use in conjunction withthe cover of a commutator for distributing electric current in theignition system of an internal combustion engine having a fuel intake,the said cover having a central socket and a contact element in thesocket forming part of the ignition circuit, of an ozone producingdevice comprising a body of insulating material having a conduit for airtherethrough and discharging to the fuel intake, a plug in the said bodyhaving an end projecting into the said air conduit within the body andan end projecting from the body for insertion in the socket of the coverto engage said contact element, a second plug in longitudinal alignmentwith the first named plug and terminating in the said air conduit withinthe body in spaced relation with the end of the first plug providing aspark gap, and a socket connected with the last named plug adapted toreceive a lead-in wire of the ignition circuit.

ARTHUR c. RUNGE.

